Readings in Philippine History

Course Description
This course aims to expose students to different facets of Philippine
history thru the lens of eyewitnesses {1st hand account} or primary
sources {direct evidence}. Rather than rely on secondary materials such
as textbooks, which is the usual approach in teaching in Philippine
History, different types of primary sources will be used-written
{qualitative and quantitative} oral, visual, audio-visual, digital-covering
various aspects of Philippine life( POLITICAL< ECONOMIC<
SOCIAL< CULTURAL)
Students are given opportunities to analyze the authors background and
main arguments, compare different points of view, identify biases and
examine the evidences presented in the document. Moreover they are
expected to analyze the selected readings contextually and in terms of
content(stated or implied). The end goal is to enable the students to
understand and appreciate our rich past by deriving insights from those
who were present at the time of the event.

Week 1 and 2
Meaning and relevance of history; distinction of primary and secondary
sources; external and internal criticism; repositories of primary sources;
and different kinds of primary sources.

What is history?
- Common- History relies on evidence which is the backbone upon which
history stands. It relies on diligent research and by careful inquiry,
historians could reconstruct the past and write them down in some form,
so that we today can read their accounts, and at least know how these
events appeared to men of the time.
FACTS- is the heart of every historical writing. They are collected from
various sources and carefully investigated and written by a historian. The
scientific investigation of facts is not merely the collection of dead facts
of data from events but an intellectually rigorous activity of searching for
truth about the past.
Every historian strives at understanding the origins of the sources and
also compare one source or account with another. And the historian
weighs all sources in order to reach an objective and true conclusion.
Numerous Definitions of History

- it means the past of mankind which is derived from the two german
words geschehen meaning to happen and and geschichte is that which has
happened. Meaning the reconstruction of the total past is unattainable.
Why? Because the past of mankind is beyond recall, meaning, they
cannot recreate their own past.
Highlights of the Reading

1. The facts of history do not have objective reality of their own.

They exist only in the observers or historians mind (and thus may be
called subjective) To be studied objectively ( that is, with the intention of
acquiring detached and truthful knowledge independent of ones personal
reactions) a thing must be first an object; it must have an independent
existence outside the human mind.

2. Artifacts or documents are the sources or the raw materials out

of which history may be written. Though they are important, they are
not the essence of the study of history. The historians interprets these
sources (explaining why and how things happened and were interrelated)
as well as describe them (telling what happened, when and where, and
who took part). besides surviving facts are only a small part of the periods
to which they belong. A historical context can be given to them only if
they can be placed in a human setting. Without further evidence the
human context of these articles can never be recaptured with any degree
of certainty.

3. Historical knowledge is limited by incompleteness of the

records. Only a small part of what happened in the past was ever
observed. The whole history of the past( actual) can be known to a
historian only thru the surviving part of the recorded part of the
remembered part of the observed past of the whole. In other words, that
the historian studies is not only incomplete, it is markedly variable as
records are lost or rediscovered.

4. History is a subjective process of re creation of the historian.

The historian restores the total past of mankind in terms of his own
experience. He tries to get as close as an approximation to the truth about
the past as constant correction of his mental images will allow, at the
same time recognizing that the truth has in fact eluded him forever. For
the historian, history becomes only that part of the human past which can
be meaningfully reconstructed from the available records and inferences
regarding their setting.
5. Historical method is the process of critically examining and
analyzing the records and survival of the past. On the other hand,
historiography(the writing of history) is the imaginative
reconstruction of the past from the data derived from historical method.
By means of historical method and historiography, the historian
endeavors to reconstruct as much as possible the past of mankind as
he can. He must be sure that his records really come from the past and
are in fact what they seem to be and that his imagination is directed
toward re-creation and creation.

6. The historian who knows contemporary life best will

understand past life best. Since the human mentality has not changed
noticeably in historic times, present generations can understand past
generations in terms of their own experience. Those historians can make
the best analogies and contrasts, that is, the widest range of experience,
imagination, wisdom and knowledge.

7. The history of historical method dates back during the tie of

Thucydides, who in the 5th century B.C conscientiously told his readers
how he gathered his materials and tests he used to separate truth from
fiction. This is the start of the so called HISTORICAL ANALYSIS
which undergoes the following steps;
1. The selection of a subject for investigation
2. Collection of probable sources of information
3. The examination of those sources
4. The extraction of credible particulars from the sources proved
genuine
5. Written and oral sources are derived into 2 kinds; primary and
secondary sources
PRIMARY source is the testimony of eye witnesses or of a witness by
any other of the senses or of a mechanical device like the dictaphone- one
of who or that which was present at the events of which he or it tells.
SECONDARY source is the testimony of anyone who is not an eye
witness- that is one who was not present at the events of which he tells.
8. Original is a word with different meanings. A document maybe
called original
1. because it contains fresh and creative ideas
2. It is not translated
3. Because it is in earliest, unpolished stage
4. Its text is the approved text, unmodified and untampered
5. It is the earliest available source of the information it provides.
9. The word DOCUMENT (from docere, to teach) has also been
used by historians in several senses. However, it is better to define it as
any process of proof based upon any kind of source whether written,
oral, pictorial or archeological. Thus document becomes synonymous
with source, whether written or not, official or not, primary or not.

10. Human document is an account of individual experience which

reveals the individuals actions as a human agent and as a participant in
school life. On the other hand, personal document has been defined as
any self revealing record that intentionally yields information regarding
the structure, dynamics and functioning of the authors mental life.
However the term personal document is to the historian synonymous with
the term human document. All documents are both human and personal,
since they are the work of human beings and shed light upon their authors
as well as upon the subjects the authors were trying to expound.

Guide questions
1. What are the various definitions of History?
- past of human kind for the most part is beyond recall
2. Why is the reconstruction of the total past unattainable?
- because the past of mankind is beyond recall, meaning we are human
beings sometimes we cannot recall all what had happened in our past in
as much that in our life there must be events, persons, words, thoughts,
places, that made no impression at the time they occurred or have since
been forgotten.
3. How do objectivity and subjectiv historical writing?
- objectivity occurs if the historian is able to detach his/her biases or
personal reactions/intentions to the object being studied
-subjectivity occurs when the historian have no objective reality of her
own, meaning they exist only in the historians mind. They cannot be
seen, felt, tasted, heard etc
4. What is the value of placing human setting or historical context
in describing and interpreting artifacts.
- the value is that we can recapture history with certainty if we placed
human setting in interpreting artifacts. Because artifacts are not that
important in the study of history.
5. What are the implications of historical knowledge being limited
by the incompleteness of the records or markedly variable as records
are lost or rediscovered?
- if this is the case only a small part of what happened in the past was
ever observed.
6. Why is history considered a subjective process of re-creation of
the historian?
- because the work of a historian is to restore the total past of mankind in
terms of his experiences. So it all depends on the available records about
the past.
7. What distinguishes historiography from historical method?
- Historiography- writing of history
- Historical method- process of examining and interpreting, analyzing
the records
But they are both means used by historians to reconstruct the past
8. When did historical method start?
- the the time of Thycydides in the 5th century
9. What is the difference between primary and secondary
sources?
- Primary- testimony of eyewitnesses- one who was present at the
events of which he or it tells
- Secondary- who is not an eye witness
When is a document original?
- because it is not translated etc
10. What is a document?
- process of proof based from any source (written, oral, pictorial etc)
Is there difference between Personal and human document
- they are synonymous since all documents are both personal and human
and they are the work of human beings
Summary
What is history and how is it written?
HISTORY- rests on diligent research and by careful inquiry, historians
can reconstruct the past and write down in some form, so that we today
can read their accounts and at least how these events appeared to the
people.
Objectives
1. Define history, historiography, historical method, subjectivity,
objectivity, primary sources, secondary sources as well as personal and
human document.
2. Discuss why the reconstruction of the past is unattainable
3. Determine the implications of historical knowledge being limited
by the incompleteness of the records
4. Explain the process of performing historical analysis
5. Discuss the different meanings of original in historical writing.

READING 2
Objectives
1. Differentiate authenticity from credibility
Authenticity- genuineness of a historical source.
It answers the questions related to the identity of the author in terms of
personality, character, position etc.
It also identifies when, where and how the document was written.
Credibility- trustworthiness of the contents of the source, consistency
of the document etc.
2. Determine measures to evaluate authenticity and credibility of
the evidence
3. Discuss the factors affecting the witness ability to tell the truth
and willingness to tell the truth.
1. Historical documents are fabricated or forged for the following
reasons namely;
A. To bolster (support,strengthen) a claim.
B. To utilize as a political propaganda (efforts) ex. slogan
C. Used as some practical joke
D. And to mislead a certain contemporaries (living at the same time)
and subsequent (succeeding) historian
The circumstances of the forgery of historical documents may often
themselves reveal important political, cultural, and biographical
information- but nor about the same events or persons as if they were
genuine.
2. To distinguish a hoax(deceive, fake) from genuine document,
the historian has to tests that are common also in police and legal
detection. Historians investigate the materials to see whether they are not
anachronistic (belonging to a period not belonging to the same
period). they examine the ink for signs of age or for anachronistic
chemical composition. They also see if they can identify the handwriting,
signature, seal, letterhead or watermark (design that is visible)of the
document.

3. Garbled (unclear) document is the result of the deliberate

effort to deceive people. In its entirety or in large part, they are often
hard to evaluate. Documents are garbled because they have undergone
several stages of reproduction removed from the original- that is to say,
copies of copies or sometimes they say copies of translations etc.

4. Historians are committed to restore texts. Their first task is to

collect as many copies of the dubious( assumptions, not to be relied upon)
text as diligent search will reveal. Then they are compared. When the
style and contents of passages under discussion maybe attributed to the
author, it is safe to assume that they were parts of his original manuscript
but were omitted later by copyist, and when they cannot be attributed to
the author it is safe to assume that they were not parts of his original
manuscript.
5. Identification of the author and date is essential in performing
external criticism. Historians need to determine the authors location in
time and space and as to his habits, attitudes, character, learning,
associates etc. Otherwise it would be impossible to prove or disprove
authenticity( real ) by anachronism (old fashioned), handwriting, style,
alibi, or other tests that are associated with the authors milieu,(s0cial
environment) personality and actions.

6. Historians are always concerned in examining and

understanding historical fact. In the process of analyzing historical fact,
the historian should constantly keep in mind the relevant particulars
within the document rather than the document as a whole. He determines
the credibility of each particular whether it actually happened or not. In
examining the credibility of a document, it is not inconceivable
(unbelievable) that two historians of equal ability and training would
extract the same isolated facts and agree with each others findings in
dealing with the same document. In that way the elementary data of
history are subject to proof.

7. In analyzing a document for its isolated (far) facts the historian

should approach it with a question or a set of questions in mind called
interrogation hypothesis (proposed explanation). in each of these
questions, a certain implication is assumed to be true and further
clarification of it is sought on an additional working assumption.

8. The quest for particular details of testimony is essential in

conducting internal criticism. In here, the historians uses the four aspects
of historical subject;
A. Biographical
B. Geographical
C. Chronological
D. Occupational or functional. With a set of names, dates, and key
words in mind for each of these aspects, the historical investigator combs
his document or notes for relevant particulars. It is generally wise to take
notes on relevant matter whether or not it at first appears
credible(convincing).
9. Identification of author matters in internal criticism. Even the
most genuine of documents should be regarded as guilty of deceit until
proven innocent. The importance of first establishing the authors general
reliability is therefore obvious. If the authors name is unknown, the
historian must depend upon the document itself to learn much about
him/her.

10. Determination of approximate date is a requirement in internal

criticism. If the date is unknown in the document, one has to resort to the
conjectures( conclusion) known to the historian as the point not after
which. These points have to be established by internal evidence- by clued
given within the document itself. Some documents might not permit even
a remote guess of their points but where the author is known, one has at
least the dates of his birth and death go by.

11. The ability and the willingness of a witness to give dependable

testimony are determined by a number of factors in his personality and
social situation that together in astronomical observations to allow for the
inaccuracy of individual observers. The personal equation of a historian is
sometimes called his frame of reference.

12. The historian is a prosecutor, attorney for the defense, judge and
jury all in one. But as judge he rules out no evidence whatever if it is
relevant. To him any single detail of testimony is credible-even if it is
contained in a document obtained by force or fraud witness- provided it
can pass four tests
1. Was the ultimate source of the detail (the primary
witness) able to tell the truth?
2. Was the primary witness willing to tell the truth?
3. Is the primary witness accurately reported with regard
to the detail under examination?
4. Is there any independent corroboration(evidence
which confirms or support a statement) of the detail under investigation.
Any detail (regardless of what the source and who the author) that passes
all the four tests is credible historical evidence.
13. The ability to tell the truth rests in part upon the following:
A. Witness’s nearness to the event
B. Competence(ability to apply) of witness
C. Degree of attention
D. Leading question
E. Circular argument
F. Egocentrism (interest to oneself)
14. There are several conditions that influences willingness to tell the
truth.
A. Witness interest
B. Witness bias
C. Desire to please or displease an intended audience
D. Literary (choice of word, sentence structure) style
E. Laws and conventions (a way in which something is done)
F. Witness expectations or anticipation (prediction)

Guide questions
1. Why are historical documents forged or misleading?

A. To bolster (support,strengthen) a claim.

B. To utilize as a political propaganda
C. Used as some practical joke
D. And to mislead a certain contemporaries (living at the same time)
and subsequent (succeeding) historian
2. How do historians distinguish a hoax from a genuine
document?
A. To distinguish a hoax(deceive, fake) from genuine document, the
historian has to tests that are common also in police and legal
detection. B. Historians investigate the materials to see whether they are
not anachronistic (belonging to a period not belonging to the same
period). they examine the ink for signs of age or for anachronistic
chemical composition.
B. They also see if they can identify the handwriting, signature, seal,
letterhead or watermark (design that is visible)of the document.
3. Why do garbled documents happen?
Documents are garbled because they have undergone several stages of
reproduction removed from the original- that is to say, copies of copies or
sometimes they say copies of translations etc.
4. How do historians restore texts?
A. Their first task is to collect as many copies of the
dubious( assumptions, not to be relied upon) text as diligent search will
reveal.
B. Then they are compared. When the style and contents of passages
under discussion maybe attributed to the author, it is safe to assume that
they were parts of his original manuscript but were omitted later by
copyist, and when they cannot be attributed to the author it is safe to
assume that they were not parts of his original manuscript.
5. Why is it essential t identify the author and the date of the
document in performing external criticism?
Otherwise it would be impossible to prove or disprove authenticity (real)
by anachronism (old-fashioned), handwriting, style, alibi, or other tests
that are associated with the authors milieu,(s0cial environment)
personality and actions.
6. What is a particular? How do historians examine and
understand historical fact?
Particular-is the historical fact
He determines the credibility of the historical whether it actually
happened or not
7. What is interrogation hypothesis?Why is it essential in
document analysis? Ex. Did the medieval city develop from the fair?
Having questions in mind. It is essential in document analysis to seek
further clarification and to solve problem of relevance (connected) of
subject matter.
8. What are the four aspects of historical subject? Why are they
needed in conducting internal criticism?
-- biographical, geographical, chronological, occupational or functional
(referring to names,dates, key words etc)
- they are needed in order for the investigator to take notes on relevant
matter about the historical subject.
9. What is personal equation?
- - his frame of reference or his/her philosophies (purpose) of life

Summary- history relies heavily on arguments. Historians construct

arguments based on evidence and thru the process of questioning,
reasoning and interrogation, they are able to develop or reconstruct a
knowledge of the past.

Reading 3
One past but many histories- controversies and conflicting views in
Philippine history. ( The historians task in the Philippines )
How do historians think? What makes historical inquiry exciting?If
history is a representation of society’s collective memory, how could
historians ensure that historical facts are truthful and depictive of the
genuine story and struggle of a people?
Significantly, historical inquiry is not totally shaped by a single frame
of reference (personal choice/experiences) but of legitimate and
relevant evidences. The opinions of historians, no matter how strong
they are, may not be accepted unless they are supported by authentic
(real) and relevant evidences.
The following reading is focused on the method in history. It discusses
the historians procedures in unravelling historical truth. It also
analyzes the development of historical writing especially that of
nationalist history in the country.
Learning objectives
1. Explain the task of historians and the personal/professional
qualities needed to realize their tasks.
2. Identify filipino historians and their writings which were
falsified and distorted.
3. Enumerate and discuss the characteristics of a true people’s
history.

Highlights
1. History can never be objective it is always written from a point
of view of the writer. However this should not be taken with
skepticism(doubt about the truth) believing that history is a fiction
(invention, fabrication). While historians may interpret the past from
various perspectives and reasons, their narratives must be based on all
available authentic (genuine)and credible or reliable sources/evidences.
2. The task of historian is to interpret the historical facts or events
truthfully. Thus a historian uses critical historical method which requires
basing ones interpretation and assertions from facts found in the
documents.
3. To arrive at facts historians are demanded to demonstrate in detail
how to bridge the gap between documentation and the conclusions that
are drawn from it. The difference in the historians point of view rest in
knowing how to put questions to a document and knowing what questions
to raise.
4. The gaps left by colonial minded historiography in the Philippines
has led Filipino historians to make attempts in writing history from the
nationalist or nation based histories.
5. Some Filipinos, who wrote nationalist history, obstructed rather
than promoted national interest. These include the writing of Pedro
paterno (a traitor, tagapagsaayos ng kasunduang Biak na Bato at
naging pangulo ng Malolos Congress )(ancient tagalog civilization)
jose marco (code of kalantiaw).
6. The code of kalantiaw presumed to be the first codified laws in
the philippines was exposed to be hoax by william henry scott in his
prehispanic sources for the history of the philippines in 1968. it was
proven to be fabricated by datu bendahara kalantiaw( negros)
7. The nationalist history of the 1970s rejects the colonialist and
elitist approaches in writing national history. It rather takes a stand on
writing peoples history (history of the masses).
8. In making a nationalist history, historians are challenged to
investigate the real effects of colonial experience. They have to free
Philippine historiography from colonial myths.
9. A true peoples history has the following characteristics;
A. It sees the Filipino people as the primary agents in their history-
not just objects repressed by theocracy or oppressed by colonial policies
B. It refuses to treat the people as an abstraction manipulated by
forces such as religion and imperialism.
C. It tries to understand all aspects of the experience of all the
Filipino people as they themselves understood it
D. Acknowledges what is valuable(useful) as well as what is harmful
in the Filipino past.
10. Filipino historians are called and challenged to present the Filipino
past in all its variety. Not all of the past will provide inspiration for a
better and more just society. But by depicting the whole of reality, history
will make it possible to reform and refresh every society toward a better
future.